June 2014 Table of Contents

A behind-the-scenes look at the materials and methods used in making high-performance tilt-and-turn windows. Read more

Guidelines for using ICFs to build a cost-effective way frost-protected slab-on-grade or crawlspace foundation. Read more

Cordless is convenient, but not if it sacrifices power and runtime. This tool test puts 10 cordless recip saws through their paces. Read more

Risinger’s recent video sparks a debate about Tyvek, and a reader takes issue with foam-slicing saws. Read more

Mike Guertin has a method for flashing around a curved window when all he has on hand is straight flashing tape. Read more

Tips and tools for debarking cedar logs for use as rustic-looking porch posts. Read more

Tim Uhler frames a curved free-standing stair and finds that it isn't as difficult as he anticipated. Read more

Manny Silva shows how a lightweight rack built from scrap materials and fishing line will allow you to stain shingles more efficiently. Read more

Most lumberyards offer a discount for early payment. Don't let that 2% discount go to waste. Read more

Judging a company's profitability based on gross profit can be misleading. Your bottom line numbers are a better indicator of performance. Here's why. Read more

One way to enforce performance deadlines with your subs is to include a "time is of the essence" provision in your subcontract agreement. Read more

A cellulose-insulated double wall is less expensive than the same wall insulated with spray foam, but is it a riskier assembly in a cold climate? Read more

A wood shear panel for large openings made from Timberstrand LSL, the product can be trimmed on site by the installer. Read more

Available in 10 standard colors, the faces of this decorative vinyl siding are molded with a cedar texture and other eye-catching details. Read more

Marvin’s newest window and door styles include doors with narrower stiles and rails, as well as more glass. Read more

The refrigerator offers rapid cooling and quick-freeze capabilities, humidity-controlled shelves, and 22 cubic feet of storage. Read more

This multifunctional door has impact glass, multi-point locking hardware, and a stepped wood sill to shed water. Read more

This Energy Star-certified board offers an R-value of 6.5 per inch. Read more

This kitchen faucet’s self-cleaning technology keeps the spout free of mineral deposits thanks to resilient outlets in the faceplate. Read more

These squeak-free stair treads are manufactured with a low moisture content. Read more

Danze’s new Neo Retraction weight system can be adjusted without tools and will be available on all of the company’s pullout faucets this year. Read more

Long used in the marine industry, this floor protection is flame retardant and impermeable to water, and includes a slip-resistant diamond-plate-pattern surface. Read more

A numbering system on these 45-inch-long panels provides a guide for vertical joints on adjacent courses to be automatically offset. Read more

This innovative product is applied like paper tape but won’t stretch when wet, resists mold, and isn’t prone to bubbling. Read more

Other finish nailers force you to compress a spring-loaded nose against the work surface to fire a shot. But with Smart Point nailers, you just touch the non-marring tip to the surface—no pushing required. Read more

A unique Quick-Shift Mode combats overdriving, but it isn't cheap. Read more

The Pneuhook universal quick-change hook is equipped with a coupler and a male plug so you can simply snap it onto the nailer’s male plug and snap the air hose onto the Pneuhook. Read more

When a compromised island setting requires moving not one, but four, massive structures, the logistical challenges are daunting and the process is nothing short of impressive. Read more

There are two good sources for designing frost-protected shallow foundations (FPSFs). Read more

Doug Horgan diagnoses and fixes a leaky shower in a way that saves his customer time, hassle, and money. Read more